ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores on Monday recognized U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) for her continued leadership on behalf of pharmacy patient care. Hagan, joined by seven U.S. Senate colleagues, sent a bipartisan letter of support for medication therapy management to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The letter urged inclusion of language in any end-of-year legislation that would allow seniors who suffer from any chronic disease to benefit from MTM services if the intervention could result in a cost savings to the Medicare program. Currently under Medicare Part D, seniors must have “multiple chronic conditions” and be prescribed “multiple medications” before they are eligible for MTM services.

“Only one-quarter of seniors currently has access to MTM, while many more can benefit from the service,” the letter stated. “Research shows that only 50% of patients properly adhere to their prescription drug therapy regimens, and poor adherence costs the nation approximately $290 billion a year, nearly 13% of total health expenditures.”

In the North Carolina “ChecKmeds” program, MTM helped 31,000 seniors optimize their drug therapy for a savings of $34 million — a return on investment of nearly 14-to-1.

“We believe the best way to make sure Americans use medications effectively is through professional services offered by pharmacists and other qualified healthcare providers, including ‘medication therapy management,’” the letter stated. “Evidence shows that MTM improves outcomes and reduces unnecessary medical costs.”

“As the sponsor of the Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act, NACDS thanks Senator Hagan for her continued leadership and commitment to community pharmacy and patient care,” stated NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson. “Community pharmacies can provide MTM services to help patients manage their health, especially for those who suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma or other conditions.”